Children’s Museum Silent Auction Goes Virtual  

Fundraiser Celebrates One Year at New Location

October 3, 2020 (COMMERCE, TEXAS) – The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will host its first virtual event. This event is a Virtual Auction, and bidding will begin on October 12 at 8:00 am and end on October 17 at 8:00 pm. The 2020 Virtual Silent Auction will reflect the changes created by COVID-19. An online bidding platform will replace the social gathering of previous Silent Auctions. Pictures of each item will replace the hands-on approach of the physical Silent Auction. Friendly, in-person bidding competitors can now bid with a click of a phone, tablet, or computer to update each bid. Charles Schwab of Greenville will sponsor the Virtual Silent Auction.

“Although we will miss seeing our friends and supporters, there are advantages to the online Silent Auction. We hope to reach bidders who might not live close enough to attend the Silent Auction in Commerce. For some, this will be a more convenient way to bid. We will have items displayed at the Children’s Museum for anyone who would like to see them,” said Becky Adams, co-chair of the event.

The Virtual Silent Auction will also celebrate one year for the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 100 Maple Street. “A year ago, moving and opening a new building challenged us. Now a year later, we are challenged with all the changes caused by COVID-19. It has been a tumultuous year for the Children’s Museum as well as so many others. The Virtual Silent Auction will hopefully provide funds to meet these challenges,” said Beckey Thompson, also co-chair of the event.

Bidders at the auction will find all kinds of items for bidding. Handcrafted, talented local people have donated one of a kind items. Original artwork will be available for bidding. Other things will include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, holiday décor, and jewelry as well as unique experience packages, and much, much more. Children’s experiences and items will also be a highlight. We limit the event to 100 items.

Raffle tickets are also on sale for $5.00 each or five for $20.00. You can purchase these from a member of the Board of Directors, and you can buy online from the museum’s website at netxcm.com. There will be four $250 gift cards given to four different winners. Cypress Bank, Inwood Bank, Guaranty Bank and Trust, and Alliance Bank donated the gift cards, and the drawing will be at 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 17.

The museum is currently open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. You can schedule private groups Wednesday through Sunday. If organizing a private group, no other visitors will be permitted to enter the Children’s Museum. Attendance is by reservation only for the morning session from 9:30 to 12:00 or the afternoon session from 1:00 to 4:00. Visitors can reserve their spot online at netxcm.com. Over fifty play areas for young children are open for creative and imaginative play. 

The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is beginning its eighteenth year of operation. The Children’s Museum experienced great success during the first 2 1/2 months of 2020, with over 8,000 visitors. Although the current COVID environment halted this growth, the Children’s Museum is looking forward to 2021. For questions, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.